You are right. I will lower my expectations from now on and be happy when they make the playoffs. Since I am 'not a fan' if I watch 82 games a year and then watch them get beat by their obvious weaknesses that they have had for years in the playoffs.

Who asked you to lower your expectations? It might be a good start to set out some realistic expectations though. I know this team has a shot to win every year, some years more then others but even my undersized brain knows it's not going to happen every year. For the first time in 20 years this team has to look ahead at the big picture with impending retirements and free agents leaving. Most teams arent good enough to plan for the future as well as make a run at the cup, its usually either one or the other. If I was a new fan to hockey and logged on this site today you would think we were in 11th in the conference and trying to make a run at the playoffs.

With Commodore gone, we'll wanna get a cheap 7th defenseman capable of stepping in when needed. I'd be happy with any one of the following:

Jim VandermeerSheldon BrookbankShane O'BrienMatt CarknerBryan Allen

Im quite content with Holland not overpaying today, we have a legitimate chance at winning the cup this year but we have so much security/cap space for next year if Lids and Stuart move on I think it's set up really nice. That being said (not knocking your lineup) but if all that beautiful money that we have for next year gets spent on Winchester I will lose my 20 years of patience with Mr. Holland lol

It's becoming quite glaring that without Pav this team needs some help up front. We are pretty pedestrian without him. It's like a really s***ty domino effect without him out there. Franzen and Bert are lost and Z clearly has not chemistry with them. Cleary has to play on the 2nd line where its obvious he should be on the 3rd with Helm and Miller so Abby can go down and center what would be a pretty good 4th line with Homer and whatever other guy out of Mursak, Emmerton or whoever wants to join them.

Franzen being on the ice with the net empty in a big game, brings back bad memories.

But he was on the ice because that line iced (supposedly) the puck.

Did you see him attempt to block the shot? lmfao..what a waste of time..just get out of the way if you don't want to block it. Him and Bert look so lost without Pav..Franzen especially. Franzen gets my total reprieve come playoff time if he scores like we know he can in the playoffs !

Realistically? For it to be realistic don't the guys in bold have to actually be on the team?

Right.

11 goals, 27 points. one each less than Bert. plus Cleary plays on the PK. And tonight coming back after a knee injury.

He may not be having a career year, but he's hardly s***.

I don't get the hate either, clearly not his best season but he's still on pace for 15-20 goals, what were we expecting from him? I thought he showed some good strides a couple of times last night..lets be honest , no one was good last night except for Howard.